Luke 12:37

Luke 12:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
• New International Version (NIV)It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

Context of Luke 12:37

35“Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Luke 12:37 word by word

μακάριοι οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι οὓς ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος εὑρήσει γρηγοροῦντας· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι περιζώσεται καὶ ἀνακλινεῖ αὐτούς, καὶ παρελθὼν διακονήσει αὐτοῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Blessedμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
• thoseἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• servantsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• the lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• when he comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• shall findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• watchingγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
• verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he shall gird himselfπεριζώννυμιperizōnnumi · to girdG4024
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• makeἀνακλίνωanaklinō · to reclineG347
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• will come forthπαρέρχομαιparerchomai · to pass byG3928
• and serveδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247

Cross-references for Luke 12:37

• Luke 12:43Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.
• Luke 21:36But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Matthew 24:45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?
• Matthew 25:20The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’
• Philippians 1:21For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
• 1 Peter 5:1I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:
• 2 Peter 1:11For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
• 2 Peter 3:14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.
• Revelation 14:13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
• Isaiah 62:5For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a groom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
• Jeremiah 32:41I will take delight in them to do what is good for them, and with all my heart and mind I will faithfully plant them in this land.
• Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
• John 12:26If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• John 13:4So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Commentaries on Luke 12:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37He shall gird himself - Alluding to the long garments which were worn in the eastern countries; and which, in travelling and serving, were tucked up in their belts. That those among the Romans who waited on the company at table were girded, and had their clothes tucked up, appears from what Horace says, Sat. b. vi. l. 107: Veluti Succinctus cursitat Hospes, He runs about like a girded waiter. The host himself often performed this office. And ibid. viii…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37Shall gird himself - Shall take the place of the servant himself. Servants who waited on the table were girded in the manner described above. Shall make them sit … - Shall place them at his table and feast them. This evidently means that if we are faithful to Christ, and are ready to meet him when he returns, he will receive us into heaven - will admit us to all its blessings, and make us happy there - as if “he” should serve us and minister to our wants…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-40Verses 22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37he himself will come and wait on them: In Middle Eastern culture, the master would never serve his servants. Jesus changed the master's role by serving his disciples, offering himself for them, and providing for all their needs (see 22:24–27). he will dress himself to serve: In this culture, servants often tied up or adjusted their long robes before working so they could move freely. The picture here is surprising because the master takes the place of a…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-4035-40. loins ... girded--to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2Ki 4:29; Ac 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness. lights, &c.--(See on Mt 25:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 12:37

• Character
• Death
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Obedience
• Servant
• Steward
• Temptation
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Beat
• Divide
• Divider
• Forewarn
• Hell
• Hypocrisy
• Teach
• Visit
• Watch

Commentaries on Luke 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings